Agenda item

To approve the Council’s Housing Revenue Account Budget for the Financial Year, 2014/15.  The Cabinet met on 5^th February 2014. The attached report on the Housing Revenue Account - Rents and Charges 2014/15 was considered at that meeting.

Cabinet Minute 88 relating to this report is attached. (Pages 141 to 142)

The Council considered (a) a report of the Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Housing and Streetsmart (Delivery) and the Board Director, Service Delivery concerning the proposed Housing Revenue Account Revenue and Capital Investment Budgets 2014/15, and (b) Minute 88 of the Cabinet (Housing Revenue Account – Rents and Charges 2014/15).

Councillor Richard Hurley moved and Councillor Russell Holland seconded:

·       The proposed average rent for Housing Revenue Account (HRA) dwellings for 2014/15 of £79.23 per week (52 week basis), which is an increase of 3.7%, be approved. This will be an average increase of £2.82 per week (52 week basis). The range of increases are shown in paragraph 3.12 of the joint report.

·       That officers seek authority from the Secretary of State to extend the permission for the use of the Housing Revenue Account for payments to the Council’s  tenants under the Discretionary Housing Payments scheme, to enable any underspend on the 2013/14 budget of £420,000 to be used in 2014/15, as detailed at paragraph 3.17 of the joint report.

·       The housing related support charges for 2014/15 and service charges for 2014/15 as outlined in Appendix 2 of the joint report are approved.

·       Leaseholder service charges are set for 2014/15 as shown in Appendix 3 of the joint report.

·       Based on the proposals set out within this report that the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) proposed budget 2014/15, shown in Appendix 4 of the joint report, be approved and that the HRA Capital Budget and Funding be approved as shown in Appendix 5 of the joint report.

·       That the draft 3 year capital projects and planned maintenance programme be approved at an indicative funding level of £16.8m (2014/15 prices) per annum for each of the years 2014/15 through to 2016/17 as shown in Appendix 6 of the joint report.

·       Rents charged on General Fund properties are increased by an average increase of 3.7% and the rents and charges for the David Murray John Apartments, as shown in Appendix 7 of the joint report be approved.

·       Rents charged for plots at the Hay Lane Residential Gypsy Site are increased by £1.74 per week (3.7%) to £48.74 per week (52 week basis) and the rents for workpens, as shown in Appendix 7 of the joint report, be approved.

·       The charges for Private Sector Leased accommodation for those accepted as homeless outlined in Appendix 7 of the joint report be approved.

·       Any underspend on the 2013/14 Housing Revenue Account is earmarked to fund additional works resulting from the abnormal amount of rainfall, commencing as soon as possible.”

Councillor Steve Allsopp moved and Councillor Bob Wright seconded:

“This Council resolves to amend the Cabinet’s recommendations for the Housing Revenue Account in 2014/15, to increase rents by RPI only and absorb the loss of income through reducing by £207,000 the sum earmarked from revenue income to support the HRA capital programme (the Revenue Contribution to Capital Outlay).”

          The amendment was put to the vote and declared lost.

          The Substantive Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.